Tai’s Kitchen, NCP’s answer to Amma and Anna canteens
An old axiom says, “If you want to please someone, satisfy their appetite”. The late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's Amma canteens and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's Anna canteens cater to the masses so they are assured of popular support, when elections roll around. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) too has decided to jump on this bandwagon. It is all set to inaugurate the state's first Tai's Kitchen in Badlapur, on Sunday, July 22, the birthday of its legislative party leader, Ajit Pawar. is considering replicat the same scheme in Maharashtra.
The canteen is an initiative by Ashish Damle, NCP municipal councillor and promises to provide quality food at a cost of Rs 6 per plate.
"I have been inspired by Amma and Anna canteens, as well as Manav Lok Seva Kendra at Ambejogai City in Beed district. This centre provides meals to patients and their families for just Rs 3. I then began to work on the project to provide meals at low rates without comprimising on food quality," Damle explained.
Damle is a hardcore supporter of Supriya Sule, NCP Member of Parliament (MP) and the daughter of party chief Sharad Pawar. He said he wanted to dedicate a special project to (Supriya) Tai, hence, the name.
The kitchen will provide 'subzi' and one chappati for Rs 6 and three chappatis and subzi for Rs 10. "We will ensure that customers get nutritious food, so pulses, vegetables and fruits will be added to the daily menu," he said.
Damle said, "We are expecting 100 people will come to the kitchen for lunch and dinner in a day. Expenses will be around Rs 45,000 per month. A builder from Mumbai is ready to supply flour for a year. It will reduce the burden of expenses. We can also sort out financial issues from our own trust, the Gayatridevi Charitable Trust."
Damle said, "Some financially strong leaders are ready to start Tai's Kitchen in other cities, including Ambejogai, Nashik, Nanded and others, and I hope my party adopts this idea to connect with more people. Just as Amma canteens helped the late Jayalalithaa and Anna canteens are helping Naidu in Andhra Pradesh, Tai's Kitchen will definitely help NCP."
He said, "(Ajit) Pawar's birthday is on Sunday and the inaugaration of the kitchen on that day will be a gift from (Ajit) Dada to (Supriya) Tai."
The canteen is an initiative by Ashish Damle, NCP municipal councillor and promises to provide quality food at a cost of Rs 6 per plate.